公开(公告)号：US06575010B2

公开(公告)日：2003-06-10

申请号：US09997317

申请日：2001-11-29

申请人： Mark A. Colman ,  Thomas E. Lee

发明人： Mark A. Colman ,  Thomas E. Lee

IPC分类号： G01F2500

CPC分类号： G01F25/0076 ,  G01F23/0046 ,  G01F23/0076 ,  G01F23/241

摘要： The present invention provides a method and system for detecting and cross-checking faulty sensors in liquid level indicators and controllers. A liquid level indicator and controller in which one embodiment of the present invention operates includes a control unit for controlling the other components of the liquid level indicator and controller, sensors electrically connected to the control unit for sensing the level of a liquid in a vessel, and an indicating device electrically connected to the control unit for displaying the liquid level. The control unit includes a monitor and a fault detector. In operation, the liquid level indicator and controller has two (2) basic modes. The first mode is a monitor mode. In this mode, the liquid level indicator and controller, under the control of the monitor, senses the liquid level in the vessel using the sensors and displays the liquid level on the indicating device. The second mode is a fault detection mode. In this mode, the liquid level indicator and controller, under the control of the fault detector, detects and cross-checks faulty sensors. If a faulty sensor is detected, the liquid level indicator and controller determines the type of fault, i.e., whether the sensor is open or shorted.

公开(公告)号：US5647656A

公开(公告)日：1997-07-15

申请号：US440014

申请日：1995-05-12

申请人： David E. Brown ,  Mark A. Colman ,  Michael J. Kett

发明人： David E. Brown ,  Mark A. Colman ,  Michael J. Kett

IPC分类号： F21V8/00 ,  G01F23/02 ,  G01F23/72 ,  G01F23/74

CPC分类号： G02B6/0006 ,  G01F23/02 ,  G01F23/72 ,  G01F23/74 ,  G02B6/0081 ,  G02B6/002 ,  G02B6/0028 ,  Y10S73/05

摘要： Lighting assemblies are provided for visual indicators which indicate the level of fluid in a container. One such assembly comprises a backlighting assembly for a visual fluid level indicator having front and rear transparent viewing windows for viewing the level of a fluid contained therein, comprising (i) a substantially flat fiber optic panel located proximate the rear transparent viewing window; (ii) an attachment mechanism for attaching the substantially flat fiber optic panel to the visual fluid indicator proximate the rear transparent viewing window; and (iii) an illumination source optically coupled to the substantially flat fiber optic panel. The illumination source is a gas filled light source operating at less than 25 volts A.C. which is enclosed in a waterproof and explosion-proof enclosure, and which is optically coupled to the fiber optic panel by a fiber optic light cable. The lighting assembly may also be used for directly illuminating a magnetic fluid level indicator which indicates the level of fluid in a container to which it is attached.

公开(公告)号：US06666086B2

公开(公告)日：2003-12-23

申请号：US09896899

申请日：2001-06-29

申请人： Mark A. Colman ,  Thomas E. Lee

发明人： Mark A. Colman ,  Thomas E. Lee

IPC分类号： G01F2300

CPC分类号： F22B37/78 ,  F22B37/54 ,  G01F23/243 ,  G05D9/12

摘要： An improved boiler water-level controller. According to one aspect of the present invention, a positive blowdown signal is presented to indicate to the operator that the alarm probe is in steam; performing blowdown until this indicator turns on helps ensure that the alarm probe is working properly. According to another aspect of the present invention, the controller uses a novel methodology of sensing water level using conductivity probes. An embodiment of this methodology uses the charging and discharging of a capacitor through a resistive value to sense the presence of water.

公开(公告)号：US06242024B1

公开(公告)日：2001-06-05

申请号：US08859569

申请日：1997-05-20

申请人： Michael R. Perry ,  Mark A. Colman

发明人： Michael R. Perry ,  Mark A. Colman

IPC分类号： A21D1002

CPC分类号： A21D10/045 ,  A21D6/001 ,  A21D10/025 ,  B65D85/36

摘要： The invention is a vented or unvented packaging system for refrigerated leavened compositions. The packaging system is easily opened by the end consumer and yet is capable of sustaining a desired environment within the package during the storage life of the composition. The invention includes a method for determining package seal strength for a refrigerated leavened composition. The system provides an environment within the package such that the composition attains a desired specific volume upon baking or cooking. The method includes the process of determining the specific volume required for the refrigerated leavened composition after baking, determining internal equilibrium pressure required to attain the specific volume after baking, determining the package dimension subject to the internal equilibrium pressure, and defining the pressure holding capacity required to maintain this pressure during the storage life of the refrigerated composition. The pressure holding capacity is defined by the package dimension subject to the internal equilibrium pressure, which depends on the particular package geometry selected.

摘要翻译： 本发明是用于冷藏发酵组合物的通风或不通风的包装系统。 包装系统由最终消费者容易地打开，并且在组合物的储存期间能够在包装内维持期望的环境。 本发明包括一种用于确定冷冻发酵组合物的包装密封强度的方法。 该系统提供包装内的环境，使得组合物在烘烤或烹饪时达到所需的比容积。 该方法包括确定烘烤后冷冻发酵组合物所需的比容量的过程，确定烘烤后达到比体积所需的内部平衡压力，确定受内部平衡压力的包装尺寸，并确定所需的压力保持容量 以在冷藏组合物的储存寿命期间保持该压力。 压力保持能力由包装尺寸限定，内部平衡压力取决于所选择的特定包装几何尺寸。

公开(公告)号：US5645336A

公开(公告)日：1997-07-08

申请号：US654842

申请日：1996-05-29

申请人： David E. Brown ,  Mark A. Colman ,  Michael J. Kett

发明人： David E. Brown ,  Mark A. Colman ,  Michael J. Kett

IPC分类号： F21V8/00 ,  G01F23/02 ,  G01F23/72 ,  G01F23/74 ,  G01D11/28 ,  G01F23/38

CPC分类号： G02B6/0006 ,  G01F23/02 ,  G01F23/72 ,  G01F23/74 ,  G02B6/0081 ,  G02B6/002 ,  G02B6/0028 ,  Y10S73/05

摘要： Lighting assemblies are provided for visual indicators which indicate the level of fluid in a container. One such assembly comprises a backlighting assembly for a visual fluid level indicator having front and rear transparent viewing windows for viewing the level of a fluid contained therein, comprising (i) a substantially flat fiber optic panel located proximate the rear transparent viewing window; (ii) an attachment mechanism for attaching the substantially flat fiber optic panel to the visual fluid indicator proximate the rear transparent viewing window; and (iii) an illumination source optically coupled to the substantially flat fiber optic panel. The illumination source is a gas filled light source operating at less than 25 volts A.C. which is enclosed in a waterproof and explosion-proof enclosure, and which is optically coupled to the fiber optic panel by a fiber optic light cable. The lighting assembly may also be used for directly illuminating a magnetic fluid level indicator which indicates the level of fluid in a container to which it is attached.

摘要翻译： 提供照明组件用于指示容器中的流体水平的视觉指示器。 一个这样的组件包括用于视觉液位指示器的背光组件，其具有用于观察其中包含的流体的水平的前透明观察窗和后透明观察窗，包括（i）位于后透明观察窗附近的基本平坦的光纤面板; （ii）用于将基本平坦的光纤面板附接到靠近后透明观察窗的视觉流体指示器的附接机构; 和（iii）光学耦合到基本平坦的光纤面板的照明源。 照明源是充满气体的光源，其操作在小于25伏交流电，其封闭在防水防爆外壳中，并且通过光纤光缆光耦合到光纤面板。 照明组件也可以用于直接照射表示与其连接的容器中的液体的液位的磁性液位指示器。

公开(公告)号：US06635291B2

公开(公告)日：2003-10-21

申请号：US09729477

申请日：2000-12-04

申请人： Michael R. Perry ,  Mark A. Colman

发明人： Michael R. Perry ,  Mark A. Colman

IPC分类号： A21D1002

CPC分类号： A21D10/045 ,  A21D6/001 ,  A21D10/025 ,  B65D85/36

摘要： The invention is a packaging system for refrigerated leavened dough or batter compositions and includes a method for determining package seal strength for a refrigerated leavened composition. The system provides an environment within the package such that the composition attains a desired specific volume upon baking or cooking. The method includes the process of determining the specific volume required for the refrigerated leavened composition after baking, determining internal equilibrium pressure required to attain the specific volume after baking, determining the package dimension subject to the internal equilibrium pressure, and defining the pressure holding capacity required to maintain this pressure during the storage life of the refrigerated composition.

摘要翻译： 本发明是用于冷冻发酵面团或面糊组合物的包装系统，并且包括用于确定冷藏发酵组合物的包装密封强度的方法。 该系统提供包装内的环境，使得组合物在烘烤或烹饪时达到所需的比容积。 该方法包括确定烘烤后冷冻发酵组合物所需的比容量的过程，确定烘烤后达到比体积所需的内部平衡压力，确定受内部平衡压力的包装尺寸，并确定所需的压力保持容量 以在冷藏组合物的储存寿命期间保持该压力。